Supreme Court Extends Interim Bail Granted To Ashish Mishra In Lakhimpur Kheri Violence Case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended the interim bail granted to Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son, Ashish Mishra in light of the ongoing trial in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.

A division bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Dipankar Datta took note of the submissions of Sr. Adv Mukul Rohatgi that the trial in the case was going well. “Evidence is going on, several reports have been filed” Rohatgi, representing Ashish Mishra told the Apex Court.

“We are doing whatever we can, we are doing it promptly, we are present. On both sides witnesses are being examined. “ Rohatgi submitted before the Court.

Adv Prashant Bhushan appearing for the victims in the case however, told the Court that if the trial were to be conducted on a day to day basis, it would progress faster, to which Rohatgi responded “there are 100s and 1000s of cases, this one has been expedited by your lordships.”

Rohatgi submitted that one of the prosecution witnesses in the trial did not appear for examination “There was a PW4 on their side who didn’t appear, that we didn’t have any option but not to record evidence. Warrant had to be issued, so he appeared at 1:15 on the last date of hearing, as if the court will wait for him.”

However, the Court said “That happens sometimes, there may be some genuine difficulty with the witness. “

The Court posted the matter to 26th September for further consideration.

The Court has kept Mishra's bail application pending to oversee the progress of the trial and the conduct of the accused.

In the previous hearing, the Court had said that the trial in the case was not ‘slow paced’.

Eight persons lost their lives in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence of October 2021. Four farmers, who were in the group of protesters against the farm laws, were allegedly mowed down by vehicles in the convoy of Ashish Mishra. One journalist also got killed in the incident. The driver of the vehicle and two BJP workers were allegedly lynched by the farmers in the counter-violence. Separate trials are happening in the case and the counter-case.